Cartoon family car on a winding road, pumpkin-patch road trip scene

Next 6 weekends · Oct 30–Nov 1 to Dec 4–6

Weekend getaways from Atlanta with kids

The best trip within about five hours of Atlanta for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

6 weekends

5 cities

Closest: 2h 15m

Last checked Oct 29, 2026 against official pages. How we choose

Departures

From Atlanta

Oct 30–Nov 1GreenvilleBoo in the Zoo · 2h 45mGreenville ZooNap in the car Nov 6–8NashvilleA Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone" · 4h 45mGaylord Opryland ResortOvernight Nov 13–15BirminghamDisney On Ice · 2h 45mLegacy Arena at the BJCCNap in the car Nov 20–22KnoxvilleDisney On Ice · 4hKnoxville Civic ColiseumOvernight Nov 27–29ChattanoogaEnchanted Garden of Lights · 2h 15mRock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.Friday fun Dec 4–6NashvilleGlow Wild · 4h 45mNashville Zoo at GrassmereOvernight

How far is fun?

Everything within 5 hours

Each ring is one hour of driving from Atlanta. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.

Cities we cover (weekly updates)Other family getaways (no event listings)

Chattanooga2h 15m

Birmingham · Augusta · Greenville2h 45m

Huntsville · Columbia · Knoxville4h

Savannah4h 30m

Nashville · Charlotte4h 45m

Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.

Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places, so check the official page for hours and what's on. The numbers match the map.

Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA · about 1 hr 30 min from Atlanta
Typically 1,000 or more butterflies fly free in the Day Butterfly Center, one of North America's largest tropical butterfly conservatories.
Helen Helen, GA · about 2 hr from Atlanta
Helen is an alpine village in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and families can float down the Chattahoochee River by tube.
Little River Canyon National Preserve Fort Payne, AL · about 2 hr 30 min from Atlanta
Little River flows along the top of Lookout Mountain for most of its length, past waterfalls and canyon rims.
Fall Creek Falls State Park Spencer, TN · about 3 hr 45 min from Atlanta
The 256-foot Fall Creek Falls is Tennessee's highest waterfall, and five more falls are in the park.
Biltmore Asheville, NC · about 4 hr 30 min from Atlanta
George Vanderbilt built Biltmore, billed as America's largest home, on an 8,000-acre estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg, TN · about 4 hr 30 min from Atlanta
Ridge after ridge of forest straddles the Tennessee and North Carolina line in America's most visited national park.

WEEKEND 1

Oct 30–Nov 1

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville

about 2 hr 45 min from Atlanta

Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.

Boo in the Zoo

Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.

Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.

Greenville Zoo

$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on

Official page

Greenville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Greenville

Also within reach

Nashville~4h 45m

Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday.

Birmingham~2h 45m

Hoots & Howls on Halloween, and Dino Safari's last days.

WEEKEND 2

Nov 6–8

4h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 6–8: Nashville

about 4 hr 45 min from Atlanta

A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"

Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6.

Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · See Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

Also within reach

Charlotte~4h 45m

Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

WEEKEND 3

Nov 13–15

2h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Nov 13–15: Birmingham

about 2 hr 45 min from Atlanta

Disney On Ice is at the BJCC's Legacy Arena Thursday through Sunday, the first of three Disney On Ice stops in the region this month.

Disney On Ice

In Birmingham Nov. 12–15.

Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · See the tour page for show times

Legacy Arena at the BJCC

See the tour page

Official page

Birmingham city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Birmingham

Also within reach

Chattanooga~2h 15m

Rock City's lights open Friday.

Charlotte~4h 45m

Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.

WEEKEND 4

Nov 20–22

DestinationWeekend of Nov 20–22: Knoxville

about 4 hr from Atlanta

Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Disney On Ice

In Knoxville Nov. 19–22.

Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · See the tour page for show times

Knoxville Civic Coliseum

See the tour page

Official page

Knoxville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Knoxville

Also within reach

Columbia~4h

Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

WEEKEND 5

Nov 27–29

2h 15m

Beat traffic: leave Tuesday or early Wednesday

DestinationWeekend of Nov 27–29: Chattanooga

about 2 hr 15 min from Atlanta

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13.

Enchanted Garden of Lights

Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24.

Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · Nightly

Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.

See Rock City for tickets

Official page

Chattanooga city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Chattanooga

Also within reach

Greenville~2h 45m

Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.

Columbia~4h

Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights, with Santa.

WEEKEND 6

Dec 4–6

4h 45m

DestinationWeekend of Dec 4–6: Nashville

about 4 hr 45 min from Atlanta

Glow Wild at the Nashville Zoo runs 5–9 p.m. all three nights, and kids under 2 are free.

Past three hours, make it an overnight: drive Friday, go Saturday.

Glow Wild

Glowing wildlife displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree. Santa visits nightly from Nov. 27.

Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 · 5–9 p.m.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

$27 per night; under 2 free; parking $10

Official page

Nashville city guide Visiting with little kids This week in Nashville

Little-traveler checklist

Pack it before you go

Car snacksPack more than you think you’ll need.

StrollerZoo paths and light trails are long for little legs.

Time the napLeave right before nap so the drive does double duty.

Overnight bagPast three hours, pajamas beat a 9pm drive home.

Parking cashFree admission days often still charge for parking.

Rain planPick one indoor backup, like a museum, before you leave.

More trips

Every region, every weekend

Tennessee Valley and Atlanta weekends

All regions

This week in Atlanta

Good questions

Weekend trips from Atlanta: the FAQ

Where can we go for a weekend from Atlanta with little kids?

Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Atlanta are Greenville, Nashville, Birmingham, Knoxville, Chattanooga. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

Which cities are within an easy drive of Atlanta?

Chattanooga (about 2 hr 15 min), Birmingham (about 2 hr 45 min), Augusta (about 2 hr 45 min), Greenville (about 2 hr 45 min), Huntsville (about 4 hr), Columbia (about 4 hr). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Atlanta?

Callaway Gardens (about 1 hr 30 min), Helen (about 2 hr), Little River Canyon National Preserve (about 2 hr 30 min), Fall Creek Falls State Park (about 3 hr 45 min), Biltmore (about 4 hr 30 min), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (about 4 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

Why is the same city picked more than once?

Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

Are the times and prices current?

They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.